PhD Program

Admission Information

The application to our PhD program is on-line. Click here to apply for the PhD Program. Click here to apply for the PhD Program.

MS-PhD Track Qualifications

Applicants to the traditional PhD (MS-PhD) track should have the following qualifications:

  • Master's degree with a major in nursing. Individuals with a Master's degree in other fields will be considered.
  • Recommended Graduate GPA of 3.5/4.0 or higher.
  • Required Graduate Record Examination (GRE) within the last 5 years. Favorable GRE scores are greater than 50th percentile on verbal and quantitative tests and greater than 4.0/6.0 on the analytic writing test.
  • Extraordinary potential for a research career with leadership potential in nursing and health care.

BS-PhD Track Qualifications

The BS-PhD program is offered in-residence for approximately the first year of study.  Thereafter, students will transition to the distance education format. Applicants to the BS-PhD track should have the following qualifications:Bachelor's degree (BSN, BS) from an accredited nursing program with a major in nursing.

  • Bachelor’s degree (BSN, BS) from an accredited nursing program with a major in nursing
  • Recommended undergraduate GPA of a 3.3/4.0 or higher.
  • Required Graduate Record Examination (GRE) within the last 5 years. Favorable GRE scores are greater than 50th percentile on the verbal and quantitative tests and greater than 4.0/6.0 on the analytical writing test.

Admission Process

The admission process is the same for students who wish to pursue the MS-PhD or BS-PhD track. A complete application for admission consists of two parts, a University of Utah Graduate School application and a College of Nursing application. The components of each application are outlined below:

1. University of Utah Graduate Admission application (preferably completed 2 months prior to College of Nursing application deadline). This application includes the following components:

  • Graduate Admissions Application
  • Fee as required by Graduate Admissions
  • Official transcripts from all prior educational institutions

2. College of Nursing admission application (due December 1 for admission the following academic year). This application includes the following components:

  • College of Nursing Application
  • List of three professional references (instructions for online submission are on the College of Nursing Application
  • Original written statement of research goals and interests for doctoral study to provide evidence of a match with the research expertise and interests of one or more prospective College of Nursing faculty mentors
  • A current copy of resume or curriculum vitae that documents professional experience and activities
  • Sample of professional writing (i.e., manuscript, report, or thesis; preferably published writing; employment-related writing may be submitted)
  • Official educational transcripts verifying previous academic degrees (transcripts must also verify completion of a statistics course)

Students must be admitted to both the University of Utah Graduate School and the College of Nursing. Admission to the PhD program is limited and selective. Admission cannot be guaranteed to all individuals meeting criteria for admission.

Answers to frequently asked questions about the application process are available here.

There is also a printable College of Nursing Admissions Checklist available.

Post-Admission Process

Once a student has been offered admission to the University of Utah Graduate School and the College of Nursing, there is a post-admission process that must be completed:

  • Technology verification process with the College of Nursing Specialty Media Coordinator to ensure proper delivery of the PhD synchronous distance coursework
  • Compliance with clinical area health documentation requirements (if applicable). Registered nurse students in the BS-PhD track and occasionally students in the MS-PhD track will take graduate coursework with a clinical component. For those students, a physical examination, documentation of current immunizations (including hepatitis B vaccine series and second MMR booster), TB test, and proof of cardiopulmonary resuscitation/basic life support (CPR/BLS) certification are required after admission to the college. Students will not be allowed to progress into any clinical activities without providing written documentation of current licensure as a Registered Nurse or Advanced Practice Nurse in the state of Utah, appropriate immunization, current TB Test, and CPR/BLS certification.

International Applicants

In addition to the admission requirements listed above, international applicants must complete the following:

  • International Student Application for Admission obtained through the University of Utah International Admissions Office
  • If English is a second language, the applicant must submit evidence of:
    • Completion of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a required score of 550 (score of 600 is recommended) or the computerized version (TOEFLC) with a score of 213 or above
    • Completion of a standardized test of spoken English (PAS, TSE, or comparable test)
  • Provide evidence of certification by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools
For More Information Contact:

Melissa Pederson, M.Ed.
PhD Program Manager
phdprogram@nurs.utah.edu
Phone: 801-585-1671

or

Lauren Clark, RN, PhD, FAAN
Professor and PhD Program Director
lauren.clark@nurs.utah.edu
Phone: 801-581-8576